A/N: Again a reminder that this is a more or less an AU fic. I am disregarding the deaths of Dumbledore and Sirius in this so they are still alive and kicking in this story! I'd also like to add that I have no idea what the right of passage is into wizarding society after you graduate so I just made it up.
Disclaimer: Still not mine.
Weasel Vs. Ferret Chapter 25
Before anyone knew it, graduation was upon them and then behind them all in a huge blur of tears, planning, more planning, and some more tears along with infinite amounts of worrying on Ginny's part. The ceremony itself was fairly straight forward, only the families of students graduating were able to attend, so the rest of the school had the day off to relax. Dumbledore said a few choice words (and in his case it quite literally were a few words) and so did McGonagall, who sounded like she had a bad head cold. Then each 7th year was called up alphabetically and given their certificate of completion of their magical education and their names were written in the registry as full grown adult wizards and witches.
Afterwards was a whirlwind of activity where the tears continued and excessive amounts of hugging took place with lots of 'we made it!' and 'finally!' There were only six selective individuals who were not enjoying their commencement as much as the rest however. Ginny stood among the throng of people craning her neck to look for five familiar heads of blonde, chestnut, flame, ebony, and chocolate. She scanned the crowd quickly and found Hermione first. She was nearby with her parents who were staring in wonder at the castle as she pointed out the various towers. The graduation ceremony had taken place outside and it was a gorgeous June day.
Ginny's nerves were too shot to enjoy it much.
She hurriedly made her way over to the small crowd, exchanged hurried greetings and the appropriate congratulations to Hermione in front of her folks then hastily dragged the older girl aside. As soon as they were out of earshot, Ginny turned to Hermione.
"Are you noticing, what I'm noticing right now Herm?"
The bushy haired 7th year nodded, "I scanned the crowd when I went up to get my certificate. Almost every parent with a Slytherin student graduate is absent."
"So this is really happening isn't it? Something really is going down?"
"Look, we shouldn't talk about this here, let's find the others," Hermione glanced around nervously.
Ginny nodded mutely and followed the now former prefect through the crowd. It took them another 20 minutes before they could round up Harry, Ron, Draco and Blaise, especially without arousing suspicion when it came to the latter two. The six friends snuck silently back into the castle and into a deserted corridor where they found an empty classroom. Once everyone was comfortably situated on a desk top or chair, Harry spoke.
"We all know that an absence of a certain house's parentals was blaringly obvious today, which further proves that something is brewing outside this castle."
"On the contrary, both Blaise's and my mother were able to attend," Draco said smoothly, but the look on his face was anything but delighted.
"Must keep up appearances and all," Blaise quipped sourly.
"Look," Harry spoke more gently this time, "We've just graduated, and we don't have to worry about this until at least after tonight. So lets put on a good face for our friends and family, hug some people and get fucking wasted later. Agreed?"
"That's the first smart thing I think I've ever heard you say Potter," Blaise commended.
"Was that a compliment Zabini?" Harry asked.
"Absolutely not," Blaise replied.
"Didn't think so," Harry said, but he grinned nonetheless.
!#&()
5 hours later found Ginny standing in front of her mirror checking out her outfit for the night's festivities. She was wearing a bright teal halter top, with swirly white patterns on it, with a low slung, tastefully torn jean skirt that rested barely mid thigh. Her hair was in a curly ponytail and she wore white sling back pumps to show off her legs. Ginny and a couple of 6th years had decided to send off the graduated 7th years with a giant end of the year/graduation blow out at Inferno and it was nearly time.
The four Gryffindors were to meet the Slytherins in front of the corridor that led to the passage at 8:30. Ginny looked at the clock on her bedside table. It read 8:23. She grabbed a long cloak and threw it over her shoulders, making sure not to forget her wand as she made her way downstairs. When she got down, Hermione was wearing a similar cloak and Ginny had to hide a smirk. Great minds think alike she supposed.
"More like, great minds know that Ron would have blown a gasket if he knew what we had on under these cloaks." Ginny thought.
Ron and Harry gave the two girls funny looks as they made their way to the meeting spot, but refrained from comment. Halfway to the spot however Ron ventured to ask, "Aren't you warm in that? It's the middle of June."
The two girls just shrugged enigmatically and continued on. When they reached their destination, they were greeted by the two Slytherins who were already there.
"Told you punctuality wasn't a Gryff thing," Blaise winked at Ginny.
Ginny stuck her tongue out at him.
"We aren't late, you're early," She said snootily as she gave Draco a greeting kiss on the cheek.
"Excuses, excuses," Blaise taunted as he turned to the portrait and gave the password.
Once they reached the end of the corridor, Ginny took the liberty of tapping the 14th brick up and 6th one over this time to let the 7th years file past her. The scene that greeted them was shockingly different from when they had been there last October. The skrewts had been removed from the platforms and replaced with Fred and Georges famous fireworks floating around their heads in swirls of brilliant color. The party seemed to already be in full swing for a large crowd of people took up the dance floor and the fireworks kept multiplying when some threw a vanishing charm at it. Ginny had to grin at that. Of course the students would know how to multiply them, and her grin grew wider at the image of Umbridge storming around the castle trying to disperse the ostentatious display.
Walking further into the club, the group found the huge far wall covered in magical paint that spelled the words, 'Congrats you brats, you finally made it!' that glowed in the dark and danced across the mirror repeatedly. .
Ron and Harry wandered off by themselves claiming to want to get an early start on drinking themselves into post graduation stupor. Ginny rolled her eyes at her brother and took the opportunity to remove her cloak and promptly toss it on the floor. Hermione followed suit and their cloaks disappeared.
"That charm sure is handy," Hermione said shaking her head, but no one was listening. They were too busy staring at her.
"What?" Hermione said, looking perplexed.
Ginny was the first to recover.
"Wow Hermione, you look amazing!" She squealed.
Hermione blushed deeply and shrugged, "You only graduate once right?"
"Whoo hoo, you wild woman!" Ginny hooted with glee.
Hermione had chosen and ensemble that would have made a super model jealous. She was wearing a soft yellow halter mini dress that draped over her form in soft folds and accentuated her narrow shoulders. The dress was held up by a silver circle that was connected to the front of the dress and went around her slender neck. The back was completely open.
"Wild woman? Look at you little miss high heels!" Hermione laughed, nudging her own sandaled foot against Ginny's pumps.
The two girls giggled for a minute before realizing that the two boys had remained completely silent for the exchange. Ginny turned to see Draco with a highly amused look on his face and glanced over to see a glazed look in Blaise's.
"Wow Herm, I think you've struck this poor bloke dumb," Ginny laughed, waving a hand in front of the older boys face.
"C'mon Zabini, stop ogling and let's get me a drink!" Hermione commanded.
Blaise snapped out of it then and saluted, "Yes ma'am."
And he was dragged away. Ginny shook her head, "So what'd you think?" She looked up at Draco.
"What do I think about what?"
"Those two," Ginny nodded her head towards the bar where Blaise was handing Hermione a glass.
"Honestly, I have no idea," Draco said emotionlessly.
Ginny just grinned and leaned in for a kiss when—
"GINNY! What the hell are you wearing?" Fred exclaimed, appearing quite literally out of no where and clearly thunderstruck.
"More like not wearing…" Lee Jordan corrected, coming up behind him and giving Ginny a once over.
"Hey! Stop ogling our sister," George snapped at his friend, appearing next to Fred.
"Yeah, stop ogling my girlfriend Jordan, or I'll gouge your eyes out with your own wand," Draco threatened, but it seemed half hearted somehow.
George blanched, "Ha, you hear that Fred?" He turned to his twin, "Malfoy just called Gin his—"
"—Girlfriend?" Fred finished.
Before anyone could respond to the twins sudden revelation, Harry joined the group.
"What's up guys?"
They ignored him.
"Now listen Gin," Fred went on as if Harry wasn't there.
"Oh no you don't Fred, do not start with me on this. I am old enough to decide who I can and cannot date and nothing you say or do is going to prevent that—Ah, no shhh," Ginny held up a finger for Fred had opened his mouth to object, "Don't even think about threatening to tell mum, Ron tried that one already."
Ginny glared at the rest of the group then, silently challenging them to say more. When they boys remained silent Ginny nodded once.
"Well if that's settled then, Draco and I will be on our way."
And with that Ginny turned and stomped off, dragging a very amused looking Draco behind her.
Harry turned to Fred then, "Boy you sure told her."
Fred glared, "Shut up Potter."
Back at the bar Hermione was well on her way to being thoroughly sloshed. She waved over Michael who was once again bartending and he hesitantly placed another shot in front of her.
"Wow Granger, you sure are going fast. You sure you don't want to drag it out a little?" Michael asked, "The night is still young."
Hermione threw back her shot quickly and shook her head, "You only graduate once!" She repeated loudly, pumping her fist in the air a little too enthusiastically, promptly toppling over the side of the barstool and onto Blaise's lap.
She paused then blinked up at the dark haired boy, "You have blue eyes," She slurred dreamily.
Blaise smirked, "Excellent observation Miss Granger."
She stared at him for a moment and he stared right back.
"Well?" Hermione asked suddenly.
Blaise cocked an eyebrow in answer.
"Are you going to kiss me or not Blaise Zabini?"
"You're drunk," Blaise stated.
"I'm tipsy," Hermione countered.
"I wouldn't do that to you," He said seriously.
Hermione stared unblinkingly at him for a second.
"You're not at all like the rest of them are you?" She asked, in a strangely sober moment.
Blaise just gave her a crooked grin and nodded at Michael who slid a tall frosted glass containing a bright yellow concoction down the bar at him.
"Screaming Banshee," He answered Hermione's incredulous expression, "I'm hooked."
Hermione shook her head in amazement, "So you're really not going to kiss me?"
"Oh no one said anything about that," Blaise said, gulping down half his glass. He looked down at the frosted tumbler in his hand for a moment, looked up at Hermione, and then downed the rest, "I just need to even up the score first."
Hermione grinned and hailed Michael down, "Corner! We need another Screaming Banshee for the hot gentleman on my left and a Phoenix Fire for me," She turned to Blaise, "Better hurry up Zabini, I'm leaving you in the dust."
Meanwhile the other resident odd couple was in a less jovial mood on the other side of the club.
"You're awfully quiet tonight," Ginny commented, sipping her drink and turning to her boyfriend.
They had found a secluded booth in the back of the club and were sitting side by side nursing a drink each. Draco just shrugged.
"Post graduation remorse?" He offered as an explanation.
"Yeah. Right. Draco Malfoy, feeling remorse," Ginny snorted.
Draco gave a half hearted twitch of his lip. Ginny's brows knit together in concern. Draco was being weird. Ever since their meeting with Harry, Hermione and Ron, he seemed to be tenser than everyone else.
"Hey," She whispered, placing a hand on his shoulder reassuringly, "It'll be okay."
Draco just nodded and then glanced across the room, "Well it looks like Zabini and Granger are having a good time."
Something in Draco's tone made Ginny look over and she had to stifle a giggle. The two newly graduated 7th years were in a fierce lip lock, while Michael was cleaning up two glass tumblers that had obviously been knocked over by the enthusiastic embrace their two friends were entangled in. Upon closer inspection however, Ginny noted that embrace didn't really cut it. Hermione's dress had hiked up dangerously as she was practically straddling Blaise in the already small space the bar stool provided.
Ginny shook her head and turned away from the couple, still grinning when she caught sight of Draco staring down at the table. Her grin dropped off, immediately being replaced by a frown.
"Draco?"
He didn't look up.
"Hey," She grasped his hand and pulled him to her, placing his arm around her waist and her own around his neck, pressing her forehead to his.
"What if I can't do it Gin?" Draco murmured, still staring down.
"Do what?"
"Go through with the plan? What if I fuck it all up?"
Ginny pulled her head back and glared at him suddenly.
"I never took you for a coward," she said crossing her arms across her chest.
"Are you kidding me? I'm a Slytherin, of course I'm a coward. All that valiantly brave and noble and loyal, and whatever other dog quality there are, is Gryffindor territory," Draco said bitterly.
"Sirius would resent that statement," Ginny replied tonelessly.
"Is that all you can say?" Draco looked mad.
Ginny sighed, "No. Look Draco, I know this is hard for you. No scratch that, this is unbelievable for you. But you have to believe in yourself. I know you can do this. You are a good person. We can't pick our parents."
Draco stared at her for a moment.
"That was unbelievably cliché Gin."
"Well what do you want me to say? 'Yeah Draco, you pretty much suck at life and are doomed to be an evil bastard worshipers worthless spawn forever! Sucks to be you, well have a nice life!'"
Draco raised a brow, "Yeah, that sounds about right."
"Ugh, you are unbelievable. Fine Draco, you are doomed for failure for the rest of your life! There I said it. But remember what the consequences of what you choose are going to be," Ginny said fiercely, "I don't feel much like a party anymore, I'm going to get some sleep."
And with that she rose, abandoning her unfinished drink and her very disgruntled boyfriend behind.